In three SEC games this season, Meridian, Miss., native Tyler Russell is 66-of-105 (62.8 percent) for 782 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Photo Courtesy of Mansel Guerry

STARKVILLE,
Miss. - One of only five quarterbacks this season with 10-plus passing
touchdowns and less than two interceptions, Mississippi State quarterback Tyler
Russell was named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl
announced Wednesday. In the award's ninth year, Russell is the first player in
school history to make the prestigious watch list.

Under
the leadership of Russell behind center, the Bulldogs' offense has scored at
least 25 points in each of the first six games for the first time in the 113
years of the program. In three SEC games this season, Russell is 66-of-105
(62.8 percent) for 782 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The
Meridian, Miss., native, despite having started only 10 games in his
still-young career, has already tossed 25 touchdown passes, tied for sixth on
the school's all-time list. The junior has also entered the school's top 10 in
passing yardage (3,051), and his passer efficiency and completion percentage
would both rank near the top of each category. Russell is on pace to demolish
the school single-season record in completions, attempts, passing yardage and
touchdowns.

The
Manning Award is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl
performances in its balloting. After announcing 25 quarterbacks to watch during
the preseason, the Manning Award opted to increase its focus players based on
the many outstanding performances during the first half of the year.

Ten
finalists will be determined by a selected panel of national media covering
college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The winner will be announced
on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Russell and his undefeated
Bulldogs take on Middle Tennessee for homecoming this Saturday at 6 p.m. on
ESPN2. For more information on the No. 12 team in the BCS, follow the program
on Twitter at @MStateFB and like the team on Facebook at Facebook.com/MStateFB.